Monday, August 29, 2011

From Suck to Blow: The Storm Before the Calm

First of all, I'd like to thank the many people who sent well-wishings and messages of support over the weekend as hurricane Irene ambled towards New York City at speeds of up to 14mph, like a cyclo-tourist with panniers full of destruction. However, as much as I'd like to thank everybody, I can't, because I didn't receive any well-wishings or messages of support at all. Instead, I was forced to stock up on a week's worth of cheese steaks with the sad knowledge that my fate meant little to anybody:

(Translation: "Hot, from having recently been grilled, steaks in the Philadelphia cheeseway.")

Fortunately, New York City didn't receive nearly as much damage as was anticipated, and I extend my sympathies to those who elsewhere who were affected far more adversely than we were. Nevertheless, I find myself dismayed by what seems to be a growing "You New Yorkers are 'woosies' when it comes natural disasters" sentiment. I noticed it first when Californians scoffed at our little earthquake last Wednesday, and it seemed to continue when we shut down the entire city and evacuated a bunch of people who, for the most part, probably could have just stayed at home eating "hot" cheese steaks.

If you're one of these people (a "New Yorkers are weather 'woosies'" person, not a "sitting at home eating 'hot' cheese steaks" person), I humbly request that you keep two (2) things in mind:

1) Life is much harder in New York City than it is in the rest of Canada's pannier, and on a daily basis we're subject to a degree of difficulty and indignity that most people will never have to experience. If you've never shared a crowded subway car with a homeless person who has recently soiled himself, been kicked in the face by an errant street performer, or shopped at Fairway supermarket on a Sunday (three people were recently trampled to death at the free olive oil sampling station), then you have no right to criticize us. We pay thousands of dollars a month to live in apartments that are worse than your crappiest storm shelters, and laying any sort of "weather event" on top of all this this creates the sort of hardship that would have even the most hardy natural disaster veteran crying to FEMA.

2) Our national image has become somewhat tarnished, so as a "real" city New York is one of very few things that keep this country from devolving into a complete laughingstock to the rest of the world. It's bad enough that our status as one of the world's great cities is already being undermined by designer beard-wearing curators of artisanal handicrafts, so therefore any additional threats to our status and well-being (or at least our distorted concept of what qualifies as well-being) should be taken very seriously. Without New York City, the United States is Los Angeles, Chicago, and a bunch of smaller towns that may or may not have a Cheesecake Factory in them. If this doesn't worry you, it should, because if New York City is washed away then America will simply become that place Canadians visit to do their bargain shopping.

What I yelled back was, "You're so cute, I was sorry I passed". Want to have coffee or a bike ride?

As a smug cyclist myself, I urge you to refrain from hurling anti-smugness epithets such as the one above when we are out "portaging." After all, hath not a smug cyclist two wheels? Hath not a smug cyclist a load of organic groceries? If you tip us, do we not topple? If you ridicule us, do we not become unduly sensitive? If you ask us about our bicycles, do we not unfurl soporific discourses on the relative merits of frontal versus rearward weight distribution? Hath not David Byrne, the Patron Saint of Smugness, a car?

I certainly have no issues with being "dethroned" from the top spot on a meaningless list, nor do I have any illusions that I have any influence at all, though I was puzzled by their explanation:

At least 11 of the Top 50 cycling bloggers here are women. Cycling Chic Copenhagen has started a global movement — we can see many links pointing to her. This sub-community is rocking the blogosphere, or shall say women are rocking it! Women bloggers are a definite force to be reckoned with in the cycling world.

Now, I love to see women "rocking it!" and all, but I'm also pretty sure Copenhagen Cycle Chic is not a "her," since it was started by Mikael Colville-Andersen:

The photos came first. One photo in particular started it all off. Mikael has been involved in street photography for some time and one day he snapped a fellow cyclist in the morning rush hour. All at once a theme, a visual style and a subject was born.

That style? Surreptitiously taking photos of hot Danish chicks:

Now, don't get me wrong--I have nothing but respect for Mikael Colville-Andersen and his "Cycle Chic" empire, and he is clearly the Hugh Hefner of bicycle advocacy. However, maybe the people that made this list should take the time to look at the actual blogs, because if Colville-Andersen is a woman blogger then I should get some acknowledgement for being one of the rare cycling bloggers with an indigenous Australian background.

How is this even the subject of debate? Of course it is not acceptable, for the same reasons you shouldn't draft people when you're driving to work in your car. (Unless you're David Byrne, in which case you don't have one.) How come we never see articles in the automotive sections of newspapers that ask, "Where do you stand on tailgating?" Yet, shockingly, the writer not only supports commuter drafting, but also performs domestique duties for his wheelsuckers:

My position's pretty clear: I'm happy to either draft or be drafted. With the former I don't go ludicrously close to another bike's rear wheel and I'm vigilant in case my temporary helper has to brake or swerve to avoid something. And if we reach a red light I'll often try to set off quickly so as to offer a reciprocal helping hand. When in front I indicate well in advance, and point a helpful finger towards upcoming potholes and the like.

Wow, do they also get a "happy ending" with all that? Even more amazingly, he's surprised when he drafts people and they don't like it:

These malcontents react in different ways: some turn round and scowl; others begin weaving round the lane, slowing down or speeding up. One young man's facial expression was so laughably aggrieved – you'd have thought I'd propositioned his mother – that when we stopped at a red traffic light I felt obliged to ask him, politely, why he so objected to being drafted. "Look," he hissed, "we're individuals, we're not in this together. We're cycling alone. Don't you get that?" Even by London's famously misanthropic standards this was strong stuff.

I couldn't agree more with this so-called "malcontent." You are not automatically at someone's disposal just because you are both on bikes--the normal rules of society apply. Is it OK to follow someone at a distance of two inches when you're walking just because you're both wearing sneakers? No it isn't. In reading this article it became increasingly clear to me that Peter Walker must be the most irritating cyclist in London, and it must be incredibly disconcerting not being able to ride around the city without constantly turning around and seeing this:

("Would you mind terribly if I had sex with your mother?")

It should go without saying, then, that Peter Walker's solution to all of this is completely insane:

There is, of course, an obvious answer: if someone clearly doesn't like being drafted then don't do it.

Yes, this is a great approach. Just imagine if we extended this to every other manner of rude and unacceptable human interaction, too. After all, as I always say, "If a stranger clearly doesn't like it when you fondle their buttocks on public transportation then don't do it." The only people who are allowed to just do stuff to other people until they're told to stop aren't people at all; they're dogs. Sure, a dog can get away with sticking his muzzle in your crotch or humping your leg until you register your objection, but if people start acting the same way then human society becomes little more than a dog pack and the next thing you know your dinner guests are drinking from your toilet and urinating on your carpet.

Though I do acknowledge that, in certain social circles, these are indications that the dinner party was a huge success.

Nevertheless--or perhaps because of it--I remain a firm believer in keeping your distance.

"Look," he hissed, "we're individuals, we're not in this together. We're cycling alone. Don't you get that?" With that, he deployed caltrops and sped off, leaving Bond to begin weaving round the lane, slowing down and speeding up until he regained control of his bike.

Bond slowly pulled his Ritte to the side of the road as Snake Eyes disappeared into traffic. "Nasty temper," he thought, and descended to the tube.

I was drafted the other day while riding to work on my crappy ss commuter. It was quite annoying. I was riding along, probably going no faster than 14 mph. I hear the buzzing of a coasting road bike gliding up behind me and then just stay with me. RIGHT with me. After a minute I turned and gave a glare. The roadie looked upset and pedaled off.

your analogies suck goat balls, two at a time: you wouldn't tailgate when driving (no benefit, dangerous to draftee) or walking (why would you?).

when cycling, however, you create a wonderful, valuable public good - your slipstream. it costs you nothing if someone else uses it, goes to waste otherwise, and may be very useful to a fellow cyclist. why let it go waste? who are you saving it for? do you hate efficiency?

it's the space behnd your ass, for chrissakes. who gives a f*ck?

don't be such a sourpuss puritan. allow yourself the thrill of unknown, cat 6 masses having the full and uninhibited use of your callipygian draft.

me, i would always ask first. but if someone hops on my wheel, great. i'm glad to be of use to someone. if i don't want them there, i'll let them know.

As for the woman that was portaging wooden logs........Could this women be the long lost "Log Lady" ????.As for drafting, I had better know you, or you better be some hot chick. Otherwise, you'll first get "the stare", and then "bad things" will happen.

As a Californian who has both experienced major quakes AND traveled to lots of places where earthquakes are rare, I can only say that if I were in NYC during a 5.ANYTHING quake I would totally shit myself.

The only reason a 5.6 is no biggie out here is because we are architecturally and infratructurally prepared for them. After travelling to Brasil, sitting in my aunt's 16th floor apartment in a cinderblock and rebar building, and having her tell me about seeing the light-fixtures moving during the Argentina quake a few months prior, my husband and I made a solemn pact never to discuss earthquake possibilities while traveling. 600 yr old sagging stone houses in England, 5th floor of a totally non-level ancient hotel in Paris, cave hotels in Cappadocia, and brownstones in NYC, are ALL places I would hate to be during an earthquake. And EVERYWHERE has the possibility of having earthquake sometime.

So there. New Yorkers have my permission to be freaked out. Not that they care what I think.Pink Lobster

I have so little time to train that I almost always ride at pace, and unwanted squirrely-ass draftees with no bike-handling skillz are not just an annoyance; they pose an actual danger. Go learn your craft elsewhere, then we'll work together.

Once, while driving an old GMC minivan towing a pop-up trailer at a cruise controlled 75 mph on I-80 in my state, I was passed by a semi going 80. The semi driver tucked in just 20-25 feet ahead of me and immediately I started gaining on him; so quickly that I had to give my brakes a quick stab. One of my biggest driving peeves is people who pass and slow down, so I was pretty pissed until I looked at my speedometer and saw that I was now going 80.

Actually wheelsuckers on commutes can cost you something. For example, when they run straight into you, bending your rear wheel and trashing your derailleur, and costing you your "efficient" means of transportation until it gets fixed.

nascar? you spend a lot of time driving at race car speed in nyc, huh? the extremely high likelihood of crashing into the car in front of you is worth not having to push 1cm more on your gas pedal?

your analogy continues double-barreling goat balls and just threw in a shocker for good measure.

but i understand why you don't want someone drafting you now, given that you've got your head firmly up your ass.

this ain't rocket science. if you want to draft, yes - be polite and ask. but if you can help a sister out by letting her draft, what's the harm? it's a selfish and penile move to refuse. "give it away, give it away, give it away now."

I don't think sitting 8 feet off someone's back wheel counts as drafting. Also, I think you're not really getting the benefits back there. Try 8 inches. Or slightly overlapped wheels. Works best behind a loaded tandem.

And if in front, rather than turning and glaring, just blow a snot rocket. Not much of an issue for me because my languid pace doesn't invite wheelsuckers but manages to stay ahead of those three wheeled pieces of shit old people ride.

You're right, I think total strangers should feel free to ride inches behind me while I'm running errands in flip-flops on my Scattante at 11mph because of the enormous energy savings this will result in for them. So what if they crash into me when I stop at a red light?

Yeah, when you pass them, they get up out of the saddle and "turn themselves inside out" to catch your back wheel, weaving all over the road. In fact, that's kinda how you judge them. A decent rider cam simply lift his cadence to smoothly bridge and slip into your slipstream instead of wrestling with his machine in order to close the gap, them braking in order to match your speed.

If you want to know why Anonymous 1:32pm is obsessed with Goat Balls let me explain: he's from North Carolina.

Recently there was a trial in North Carolina where a man was accused of having sex with a goat. When the main witness said he saw the defendant having sex with a goat the defendant's attorney objected, saying that a more detailed description must be provided. The witness then went into more detail:

“Well, I saw the defendant having sex with the goat, and when he was finished, the goat turned around and began licking the defendant’s ballz”.

One of the jurors leaned over to another one and whispered, “A good goat will do that”.

We're talking about a 5-10% difference in effort here. You want to risk my safety so you can save 5-10% of effort? Or practice your skills learning how to do so? Save me the trouble and sign up for a LAB Group Cycling skills class. At least if you crash someone while practicing, it was an expected potential outcome. And if you want to keep current at the skill, there's lots of group rides out there; so go find one!

I don't particularly mind wheelsuckers and I'll ride a few feet off someone else's wheel when commuting for the purpose of waiting to pass them when it's safe to do so. Though I have to say if a sucker bumps me or overlaps wheels at speed they will be threatened with deconstructive facial surgery. But yeah, following someone going 17 mph or less is pretty pathetic. Then it actually is tailgating.

wwm.. they also say in NASCAR: "rubbin' is racin'", which translates into New York as "Foffing off is bike commuting".They also say, "git me another 3 chili dogs, a gallon of Mountain Dew, and ma insulin shot."

WRM, i didn't say it wasn't ludricrous, did I? i said you shouldn't care, and shouldn't be so stingy to your fellow brethren. have some empathy, brosephina. it's a free, efficient public good, let 'em use it. i do. i'm glad i can hook someone up, free of charge. costs me nothing and makes someone happy. great.

hell, i've been drafted by a gaggle of rollerbladers AND an asphalt faux-nordic skier. (i am completely paranoid one of those guys is going to Cinzano me one day - much safer to have them draft.) not one of them has ever caused me any harm. have you ever had anyone crash into you when slowing from 11mph at a light? if youre that concerned then signal that you're slowing or just let 'em know. not that hard. let the cat six-erati enjoy their small pleasures.

Snobby puh-leez! A "steak and cheese" is the Best-Made version of cheesesteaks. No self-respecting connoisseur of cheesesteaks would be caught dead eating one. Why, Pat's will actually refuse to serve you if you go in an order a "steak and cheese". Damn New Yorkers.

Only dangerous to the trailing rider? Haven't you ever seen the leading rider get his rear wheel swept out from under him or the overlapping rider's QR skewer become tangled in the leading rider's rear spokes?

I had a guy about 2 feet off my wheel for about 4 miles in this morning. Didn't bother me a bit.

It would definitely suck if some guy does run into you, but then that's separate issue, isn't it? I mean, a pigeon might crap on my helment, but that doesn't mean I get out the shotgun and take out all the birds in town "just in case".

I always feel awkward when I have to slow down for riders on a narrow, winding recreational path. I stay about 10-20 feet back until I can safely pass. For me, it's not about the "danger of drafting" but that I don't FEEL close to them so I don't want to BE close to them. Drafting a stranger is like walking up next to someone at a urinal and then peeing on the same spot("sorry dude, it's more efficient this way").

Fudge that noise. Mr Snob, without your blog most people would still see this thing I've been doing every year since Kindergarden as a Nu-Bushwick inspired fashion accessory. The Times would still be trying to sell us Real Estate instead of titanium. The Lone Wolf's of the commuting world would still be seen as "that one guy".

Most influential cycling bloggers? HA. Try one of the most influential writers who isn't dead yet.

...if i'm out pedaling, whether i'm all kitted up & focused on a ride or i'm out toodling around, i stop at stop signs...

...why ???...well because despite how greatly inconvenienced some of you feel about having to obey traffic laws, it's not only a safety issue (for me), it serves as a positive sign to the general public that we, as cyclists, are not all self serving, inconsiderate fucking morons...

...& as a result, i've almost been slammed into from behind numerous times & one of these days, if that happens, some cocksucker is gonna get a serious fucking surprise & he's gonna think it's a way 'over the top' reaction to his personal little 'energy saving plan'...

...but hey...he'll just be learning a lesson about how 'dangerous' it is to run stop signs...

Good gravy. One thing about riding bikes in a group larger than one: The expectation that you know what you are doing. If you slide up where I can't see you, and start riding with me, that's one strike against you that you don't know what you are doing. Sorry, I don't ride with folks I don't trust at least at some level...or half wheel me.

Wasn't the freedom to wheelsuck what the American revolution was all about? This country was founded on the right of the individual to ride a close as they want to the bicycle in front of them, and if you don't like it, go back to Russia! American Wheelsucking - love it or leave it!

"it serves as a positive sign to the general public that we, as cyclists, are not all self serving, inconsiderate fucking morons..."

amen.

i don't like being on the other side of BG dubs, but i've had 0 issues with people running into me - i just stick out my hand to signal im stopping. seems to work. same thing for moving around in traffic. and i seem to have minimal bad car interactions. i don't think these things are coincidences.

letting someone draft carefree is simply my "positive sign" that we're all not anal a-holes. two sides of the same coin my friend. "... just sayin'..."

If you put "Cycle Chick" into Google, you get Cycle Chic, then a bunch of info on the life cycle of a chicken. Influential is when your name shows up closer to the top than the Chickscope page (which is way less exciting than it sounded).

Remember the bike blogger that was trying to get the Rock and Republic guy to make Kierin cut jeans? She's doing really ell these days, and is an Olympic hopeful or something:http://www.altweeklies.com/aan/the-road-less-traveled/Story?oid=4761854

If New York disappeared then people would finally see that Philly is far superior of a city and we would define the country. P.S. the reality of it all is, NYC doesn't define our country, being Canada's hairy sack does...

...whether one considers 'unwanted commuter drafting' ethical or not, whilst approaching a stop sign, you should not need to hand signal that you are about to STOP...

...the assumption by the trailing rider should ALWAYS be that the lead rider is about to stop...& why is that ???...(i know you're with me on this point at least) - because that is the correct procedure...

...if the trailing rider is so inexperienced or clueless that their intent is on a free tow & not paying attention to their surroundings, how do they know i'm not only stopping for the stop sign but that there might not be a little ol' lady or a kid in the crosswalk ???...

...witness the woman in sf who subsequently died as a result of the injuries she sustained after being hit by a 'red light running' cyclist...

...this has been a pet peeve of mine for the last few years after numerous occasions of hearing skidding brakes behind me, only to have some fucking clown almost spear me on the left or even the right with handle bars or brake levers...

...glad to be civil with you - as long as you're not following me closely & assuming i'm gonna run that upcoming stop sign...

Also, while I'm here; in a bike lane my experience is that in a headwind you will still get some of the benefits of drafting if you keep a respectful 3 to five feet back. This isn't the same as a paceline at speed obviously.

It bothers me more if I'm out on a recreational ride and someone hops on my wheel without letting me know he's back there.

I think it analogous to reading over someone's should on a bus. No real harm down, but decidedly creepy.

Perhaps a good way to deal with unwanted 'suckers is to do what I do to slow drivers lingering in the fast lane (a.k.a. the PASSING lane) when I want a little amusement. Get in front of the person - obviously in our cycling example you already are - and then ever so slowly reduce your speed little by little. Eventually they get frustrated and go around you. In the driving example, when they finally get into the middle/ right lane where they really belong, to go around, I give them a round of applause and go back to my regular speed. I'm gambling that the usual left lane creeper doesn't have a Glock in their "walnut glovebox".

I suppose this could be followed up by getting on their wheel then muttering things like, "You call that a PULL", "How 'bout a little WORK", etc. until they open up their 'suitcase of courage' and can be easily dropped.

I tried politely waving someone off my wheel in Prospect Park a while back. No response, so shook him off. A couple miles later, he's back! Waved him off again and he rides up beside me and wants to talk about it! I'm riding solo and WEARING EARBUDS!!! What are these losers thinking?

I have no problem if they want to go up to a stranger and say 'wanna ride together?', but sucking up, then barnacling... who does that?!?

bgw,I was stopped at a red light the other day with my right arm out signaling a turn. Another cyclist rode past on my right, ducked under my arm and rode into traffic in the intersection. He was still alive last I saw, but certainly qualifies as an inconsiderate fucking moron.

To The Tye, from Sacramento. I'm one of the ones on the Sacramento River Trail riding 22 mph in Spandex. You ask whether its O.K. to hang back 8 feet. No, damnit. Come December, January, I'll be out there 3,4,5 hours at a time. My nerves are frayed, and I want to be alone. Stay the fukc off my wheel. I've lost two good rear wheels on account Freds sticking their front wheel skewers into my rear wheel spokes. And, do not shadow me, either, damnit. It's annoying. I don't want to hear anyone behind. Ride on your own. I'm not your friend. I'm not your riding partner. I don't know you. Stay away from me.

The whole point started with an article about London, UK, where some guy didn´t want to be drafted because he was in a solitary thing, which is ok.It gets interesting with BGW´s "if the trailing rider is so inexperienced or clueless", which seems to be your - your as in in the US - main concern.Let me explain: i live in a city where everybody - average of 2 bicycles/inhabitant- cycles (Munich, Germany), that is where there actually is some "bike culture", meaning that people are aware of the potential dangers. It is here VERY rare to draft or to get drafted, because most people just know it can end badly. So basically, if a drafting situation occurs (again, it is very rare), the riders involved are experienced, and they do collaborate, quite willingly shall I say, especially on the few available "high speed" lanes. I´ve never ever witnessed any anger in such situation. In fact, since it´s so rare, and the riders are experienced, it is pretty cool to do some drafting in town. I just know the guy drafting me can do it - and a quick glance checking his riding confirms it-, and vice versa. Again, on the very few occasions when it happened, there´s been zero risk. Oh, and people here stop at signs.

I'm fast and I'm always dragging somebody along in my draft. At least for a few second or a minute. No ones hanging back there unless they've got the goods - you know what I'm saying. Oh and I don't commute. I train. Understand? I'm from Boulder but I live in Longmont. ( Locals get that joke!) 'nough said about that.

BUT the thing that busts my carbon fiber clinchers are the guys that have to ask permission to draft after hanging back there for who-knows-how-long and scare the crap out of me! WTF! Where did you come from? Get back there where I can forget you exist.

You know how hard it is to be redlined AND get that huge adrenaline rush when your Loudly asked if you are on a team? I was minding my own business staring at the numbers on my 500 and you barely half wheel me and yell? wtf? really?

...hey there, eurodude...part of the problem with the cycling phenomena here in america, as i see it, is that right now, there are so many new cyclist's coming from other sports & while strong, they have no experience with handling skills or for that matter, the social aspects of serious cycling...

...both require development through saddle time...

...i'm always positive (like you, i'm sure) in encouraging people to take up the activity of cycling to whatever level they might find their competency rising to, but oft times the accidents i see or hear about are cases of athletes obviously riding 'above their heads' in that they're not prepared for the dangers one encounters on the road or trail...

...all muscle, no forethought...

...from a social aspect, i love riding alone...it's for the head & the legs & in bringing it all together, there is a zen peacefulness i find nowhere else...

...when i care to ride with someone, i'm fortunate enough to have a number of competent riding friends wherein we can be comfortable in the kind of close proximity out on the road that would undoubtedly cause a problem (ie: a crash) with a new rider...

Rule #1: C'mon, don't wheelsuck someone you don't know. It's distracting at best or worse, dangerous. Anyone with some experience on a bike knows this firsthand or has seen it happen to a buddy. It's just the way it is.

Rule #2: (This is so obvious, it hurts to have to type it, yet so many commenters need a clue). Never sneak onto someone's wheel. At least speak up or make some eye contact. This is self-evident and non-negotiable.

Drafting is a trust issue. If you don't know the person, you don't know their skill level. It makes it unnerving for the person in front, and therefore, rude. It's like using a computer and having somebody you don't know hover over your shoulder - annoying as hell.

@crosspalms-tell me about it. I signaled a left turn 75 feet from an intersection, after looking over my shoulder at the car 75 feet behind me, and the prick overtook me at the intersection! Then the two cars following him did the same. I had to come to a complete stop and wait for them to speed past. Inconsiderate morons? At best. Even worse when cyclist do it.

I draft every uptight roadie I can find, just for the sudden braking and dirty looks. Really? It's that bad? It's not like I'm going to come around you like Cancellara dropping Boonen on the Muur. Or even if I do, it's not like you are going to lose the Tour of Flanders (aka Ronde van Vlaanderen for those who watch smoking, pot-bellied Belgians rant on Belgian public access for their race coverage). Lighten up.

...crosspalms...& if that clown was confronted about the situation, it would all be someone else fault...

...'you' were in the way...'you' were going too slow...'you' weren't riding properly...

...i'm a pretty accepting type but on this subject i'm opinionated almost to the point of my own detriment because i feel so strongly about how we as cyclists project ourselves...ultimately it could mean our own lives out on the road...

...we demand our rights vociferously but how many of us are willing to actually offer anything in return...

...so many cyclist's see themselves from this insular little place of being victimized (somewhat understandably) by the motoring public but aren't willing to understand or change their place in the big picture, out on the road...

I wouldn't generally consider drafting a stranger because (a) I don't know anything about their bike handling sk1llz and (b) they're usually going 10mph slower than me.

However, it has happened on occasion that I've found myself going spontaneously "bit-and-bit" (as I believe it used to be known in the 50s) with a complete stranger who was obviously a fellow club cyclist... if I flick the elbow and they don't come through however... then all bets are off

My biggest problem is that I'm addicted to drafting cars, vans, buses, and assorted construction traffic. I know it's wrong... but you just can't beat that feeling of going uphill at 25mph (relatively) effortlessly... I know I'm only one emergency stop away from being spread-eagled over the back of a van, but...

"I draft every uptight roadie I can find, just for the sudden braking and dirty looks. Really? It's that bad? It's not like I'm going to come around you like Cancellara dropping Boonen on the Muur. Or even if I do, it's not like you are going to lose the Tour of Flanders (aka Ronde van Vlaanderen for those who watch smoking, pot-bellied Belgians rant on Belgian public access for their race coverage). Lighten up."

You my friend are an idiot. It has nothing to do with being uptight. It’s the fact that your lack of bike handling abilities. I have been slammed into from behind by dumb ass commuters. My freshly overhauled bike was trashed and not one mention of "I'll get you some new bar tape and a saddle because i had my head up my ass". stay the hell away from me, I have enough scar tissue and torn connective tissue from twits like you.

Sometimes, I think it would be quite the novelty to be hassled by wheel suckers on the ride to work. If ever one day I do happen to see another cyclist on my route past the coal mines I'll be like the lonely old geezer in desperate need of company who gladly invites proselytising door to door missionaries into his home. "Yes, by all means, come in! Relax in the ample mass of low pressure air swirling behind my smugness flotilla. I'll fetch you a cup of tea and some biscuits... no I insist, it's no trouble at all, everything is right here in my Xtracycle bags... oh, look what I've found, one of my old photo albums..."

I tried for the life of me to see if anyone has defined the difference between drafting and wheelsucking, to no avail. So here goes...

Drafting is offered by a stronger rider to another when they feel so inclined by way of acknowledging that sometimes headwinds and gradients aren't all that pleasant. Reciprocation can spawn mutual respect and even new friendships. Experience and skill is a given.

Wheelsucking is taking an advantage unannounced and therefore uninvited, often but not always by people who don't know any better. The name says it all and belongs in the same family as "oxygen thief".

In the case of the former, courtesy such as advanced warning of upcoming obstacles such as glass, potholes and roadkill should be extended. Varying power output is unnecessary and if space-time permits, a social chat beginning with "Great frame, I like the lugs and panto fork crown..." might be in order when the imminent end to the union appears.

Conversely, wheelsuckers will find me adding a few score of Watts to the effort, but otherwise ignoring their presence and hence negating the need to take a hand off the ergo lever to signal "lame moose ahead" whilst aiming my steel frame for rougher sections of road to delight in the superiority of my ferrous friend over the ally or crabon gunk the person I'm ignoring is being bounced around on.

When people take liberties those of us who react indignantly are obliged to do something about it but not to them directly as this is bad karma.

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About Me

While I love cycling and embrace it in all its forms, I'm also extremely critical. So I present to you my venting for your amusement and betterment. No offense meant to the critiqued. Always keep riding!